Friday, October 26, 2012

A Tale of the Talebearers

I love fairy tales. Yes, I know they aren't true
but there is something about the stories that make one connect them to
real life. (Probably being an only child prompted my thinking this way).
Well, I got to thinking (again) of what it would be like to read a
modern-day tale, so thought I'd try my hand at writing one. Remember it
won't be magical like the oldies (unfortunately we don't have much
"magic" going on nowadays).

The Five Stepsisters

A Tale of the Talebearers

according to Karen Hopper

Once
upon a time, there were five horribly insensitive stepsisters who
regularly attended a church where the Spirit of God desired to freely
move in the midst of its people. These sisters didn't seem to relish
being in His presence and focused more on their own agenda, being
carried away by jealousy and merciless tale bearing; therefore they
found fault in the people whose only desire was to serve the King as
best they could.

Due to the
idleness of these sisters’ days, and the time spent on the telephone
(yes, in this story there is a phone; remember this is a modern-day
tale), the sisters and their “birds of a feather” friends’ imaginations
would conjure up fabricated stories on the unsuspecting. It is said that
they did it in order to blind themselves of their shortcomings.
Unfortunately, these treacherous ones would visit with one another on a
regular, almost daily, basis – looking to find the slightest thing that
would allow the thought of something bad or unseemly. Even the littlest
thing would turn into a tidbit that would allow them to go about their
tattle-bearing and backbiting ways. In many circles, it was called
gossip.

Fortunately, the Lord’s people were able to
distinguish the marks of these tale bearing sisters, and distanced
themselves. Just in case you aren't aware: What were the distinctive marks labeling these five?

One
sister had Big Eyes, which allowed her to search around looking for
possible flaws in others, and then magnify each into a major offense
against an unsuspecting soul. (It was usually her flaw but she couldn't
see it, and would pass it on hoping that it would be moved from her so
not to have to deal with it.)

Another sister was known
for her Big Ears - ears to hear vile words that acted as a destroyer of a
soul; never considering that what she heard may not be true but
relishing it as a truth anyway. (And what if it was truth, should
judgment be made by mortals under any circumstances? Isn't there only
one designated to judge?)

Sister #3 had a Big Mouth to
spread untruths, spewing out hateful words while pretending to be
genuinely concerned about someone’s salvation and well being. (Wouldn't
you think genuine concern would get Big Mouth on her knees to ask God to help that person who's struggling?)

Then there was Big Feet who always
ran around spreading malicious tones as quickly as possible. Time
reporting was always of the essence. God forbid that she would allow
juicy gossip to get cold (Talebearer's motto: Be the first to report the
fragility of another whether it be true or false.)

And
never could the four other sisters have survived without their elder
sister, Cold Heart. She was the kindred spirit that held them together
through it all, and she was the one that they needed most. CH served
as their leader well, and a reflection of the condition of her soul
and that of her sisters.

Life
continued on. Each day, the five went about their business, never
desiring anything more than affix themselves on others impurities, or
thought-to-be impurities. Never once did they feel what they were saying
was wrong, always feeling justified in proclaiming the inadequacies in
others. Poor stepsisters! They continued to toil at tattling, tale
bearing, deceiving, backbiting and lying until it was their time to have
presence with the King. Excitedly, they received invitation to go to the Kingdom, where they expected to be rewarded for the labors they had amassed. Why, they had cleaned up
the messes that the pastors hadn't taken care of. My, how could a Man
of God be so blinded not to know the shortcomings of so many, the
sisters thought. It was their duty to take care of the business at hand
and do what they did best. The King would be proud of them, giving them
honor.

The day came when the
sisters entered into the presence of the King - and each was rewarded
according to their deeds - living UNHAPPILY ever after in a place
reserved for their kind.

THE END!

pictures: Disney copyrights

1 comment:

Very well written, Sis, Hopper. I am going to be honest with you. I don't think I know who these step-sisters are. I have in the past, but not now. Hmmm...perhaps it's because I have chosen not to know them? ;-)

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